A living will—also known as an Advance Health Care Directive—is a document in which the declarant or principal (person making the living will) specifies what kind of medical treatment the declarant does and does not want if the declarant has a medical emergency and is unable to communicate those wishes. A living will may direct health care providers to administer, withhold, or withdraw life-sustaining treatments if the declarant is in a terminal or irreversible condition.

Laws and terminology for documents related to living wills, Advance Health Care Directives, Do Not Resuscitate orders (DNRs), and other health care documents vary from state to state. These laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the probate code or estates code.

In Connecticut, a living will or Advance Health Care Directive is a legal document that allows an individual to state their wishes regarding medical treatment in the event they are unable to communicate due to a medical emergency. This document can include instructions on administering, withholding, or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments if the individual is in a terminal condition or permanently unconscious. Connecticut law recognizes these directives under the Connecticut General Statutes, specifically within Sections 19a-570 to 19a-580d, known as the 'Connecticut Living Will and Health Care Instructions Act.' The law requires that the living will be in writing, signed by the declarant, and witnessed by two other individuals. Additionally, Connecticut recognizes Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders, which must be issued by a physician and are separate from a living will. These documents are crucial for ensuring that an individual's health care preferences are respected and followed by health care providers and family members.